Watershed Master Plan

The Watershed Master Plan was developed for Louisville Metro by MSD. MSD assumed responsibility of the community’s public stormwater system, along with the flood protection system, in 1987. The basis of this WMP was MSD’s original Watershed Master Plan, which was created in 1988 as part of the Stormwater Drainage Master Plan. The purpose of this plan is to help effectively manage present and future regional stormwater drainage in Louisville Metro.

Floodplain Management Ordinance

Our nation’s floodplains are regulated by federal, state, and local regulations. The Commonwealth of Kentucky and Louisville Metro regulates construction and development in floodplains so that buildings will be protected from flood damage. The regulations require a floodplain permit before you start any repair, renovation, development, improvement, or construction. Development means any changes to the property, including filling, regarding, and excavating. Also, our floodplain ordinance requires houses substantially damaged by fire, flood, or any other cause must be elevated one foot above the flood level.

The local floodplain ordinance includes strict requirements for both new construction and development in the floodplain. Therefore, you will need a floodplain permit before starting construction. All development in the floodplain requires two floodplain permits: one from the Kentucky Division of Water (DOW), and a local permit from MSD.

Example Floodplain Regulations:

Construction or filling cannot reduce the ‘storage capacity” for floodwaters in a floodplain.

All new roads must be elevated at or above the floodplain elevation.

The first floor a new residential structure must be at two feet above the floodplain elevation, other structures must be at least one foot above the floodplain elevation.

Changes, improvements, and additions must meet the substantial improvement requirement for Pre-FIRM structures.